500 plants seized in Philadelphia marijuana bust

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities say they've broken up a massive marijuana growing operation run out of a Philadelphia rowhouse, seizing drugs worth more than $1 million.

The Philadelphia district attorney's office says 41-year-old Vinh Quang Nguyen is being held on $1 million bail following his arrest Thursday at a home where investigators say they discovered more than 500 pounds of marijuana.

Nguyen also faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child because investigators say his two small children also lived in the home.

Prosecutors say they found 343 mature marijuana plants and 150 plants younger plants inside Nguyen's home in the Fishtown neighborhood. They allege Nguyen had an elaborate and dangerous electrical system set up to help the plants grow.